Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is a type of psychological therapy that helps people live a meaningful and fulfilling life, even when faced with difficult thoughts, feelings, or circumstances.

ACT is based on the idea that struggling to control or avoid painful emotions can actually make things harder. Instead, it encourages acceptance — allowing difficult feelings and thoughts to be present without trying to fight or eliminate them. This doesn’t mean giving up; rather, it means making space for these experiences while focusing on what really matters to you.

The therapy combines acceptance with commitment to personal values. This means identifying what’s truly important in your life and taking active steps toward those values, even if uncomfortable emotions arise along the way.

This approach is effective for a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, stress, chronic pain, and more. Ultimately, ACT helps build psychological flexibility—the ability to adapt and live well despite life’s challenges.